Стање и перспектива извоза агроиндустријских производа из Србије / Situation and perspective of export agricultural products from Republic Serbia

Serbia’s traditionally centralized, planned economy suffered tremendously in early transition years, which coincided with political instability and international sanctions. As a result, industrial production fell and unemployment rose to unprecedented levels, currently around 30%. As in other economies, the revival of the economy is dependent on agriculture production and trade,Serbia’s main provider of jobs and wealth. The author show the major trends in the international trade of agricultural commodities, for the time period from 1996 to 2007 with perspective till 2015. The dynamics of the import and export of agricultural commodities between individual countries, trade groups and continents are presented and analyzed comparatively and finally the ranking of Serbia in international trade. The major trade groups such as NAFTA, MERCOSUR, EU-27, ASEAN and CER are facing growing advantages of inter-regional trade. The liberalization of agricultural trade within the context of the World Trade Organization- WTO, is facing complex obstacles. Amongst them are trade and non-trade barriers like phyto-sanitary standards, customs, tariff rate quotas and a wide range of existing subsidies. The developed countries are dominating the agri-industrial world trade, due there natural potential and agro-economic policies. The respective statistical functions of the time series and the results thereof indicate the future development of international agricultural trade in general and that of Serbia in particular as a member of the CEFTA. The research results could be a contribution for Serbia to finalize the implementation of the requirements for membership to the WTO and further integration in the EU. The signing of the free trade agreement with Russia and Belorusia, strategic agreement with China and other new bilateral trade agreements like with EFTA countries and Turkey, Serbia will have free access to the market from 2010 that will increase trade exchange and would give Serbia a beneficial boost forward in international trade of agricultural products. Last, but not the least, signed an agreement on agricultural cooperation between Israel and Serbia in October 2010, aimed to help and improve the base for agricultural production by increasing efficiency, mutual transfer of knowledge and technology, systematic development of training and joint research in the field of agriculture.